Supersillious Spring

Um, so I'm pretty sure that 2010 is pretty...(before I finish this sentence, know that I am hesitant about using this word based on the fact that I will sound like a teenager, but it fits..) epic, at least it really has the potential to really be that way!! So first, I really feel like I'm the happiest that I've been since I shouted " I'm trying to study!!" during finals at the student center, which if you don't know that story... It's also classified near the epic category. So far, 2010 has begun with me kicking ass and losing 20 pounds!! Then I've reconnected with some childhood friends. Then I just had a FANTASTIC spring break!! We are approaching April and I have to say I'm psyched. I'm taking a new certification test to be certified for teaching high school Math. I'm going to visit Midland and see all of my wonderful friends!! I'm walking in the March of Dimes walk. In May, my cousin is getting married in Michigan!! I haven't seen them in a looong time so that's AWESOME!! then it's CAMP TIME!!! THEN it's ALASKAN CRUISE TIME!! of course somewhere in there I'll turn 26!!! What happens after that is a little more up in the air, I'm taking that one as it comes....but now hopefully you can see-epic is an appropriate word. I know I blogged about bishop Matt already but his funeral today brought back lots of memories. I remember lots of masses being the altar server at St. Laurence with father pat or Ed or the bishop. I remember his retirement mass!! One of my favorite things was, standing in front of all of the priests as they said the eucharastic prayer in unison!! It happened today and brought me back 13 years. It was an intense moment. Of course now I'm on a mission to find a picture from the mass. Mom and I got out some pictures of dad and looking at them it was the first timethat I REALLY saw how much I look like my dad. People at family reunions or different functions for most of my childhood came up to me and said "are you david's daughter?" I never saw it. Now my brother- yes! They could be twins. Those pictures are on facebook and I may add them here later. Anywho, I think I had more to blog about but I'm watching the third season of grey's anatomy- which is a really good one. So I'm distracted. So in case I don't blog before Easter, have a happy one! Also don't forget to donate to my March of dimes walk.
www.marchforbabies.org/teddyzzil
thank you!!

To be Decided....

I know this year isn't technically over yet, and when I say year, remember that I'm a teacher, so my years are according to school years and summers! Also, I hope this sounds right, you know how sometimes I say things that don't make sense, this could be one of those times...
Anyway, today in Mass at school, I started thinking. About how all of the things that have happened have gotten me here for a reason. I honestly think that moving to Midland and teaching at Anson Jones was the absolute right thing for me to do. I would not be the teacher that I am today if it weren't for the two years I was there. I also would not have the wonderful friends that I now have from there, at least I think they're still my friends- even though I haven't been able to visit. Also, I wouldn't have the wonderful supply of Math Games that I now have, thanks to EveryDay Math. But other than that, nothing has REALLY happened the past two years. This has been the first year that things have started happening, or that I've started doing them, however you want to look at it. It all started with the passing of my best friend's dad in August. It's weird to say that I was motivated by Death, but I have been. Not long after that, a Girl Scout Friend and Mentor also passed away. A few months ago, Olga Lange, a childhood "friend" and pseudo-grandma, passed away, which I've already blogged about so I won't repeat myself. A few weeks ago, a friend/student's father also passed away, along with a friend's grandmother and fellow teacher's mother and then last night Bishop Leroy T. Matthiesen passed away. Now, maybe I'm noticing it more because I'm working in a funeral home or maybe because I was actually able to attend all of these services, where as the past two years, I was unable to attend any, but that's quite a few. Also, I need to add, I've been a little unmotivated about lots of things lately. So this morning in mass, I started to feel like I was just sitting around waiting for life to happen again, when here is this list of people who are no longer around here to live their own life. So as the end of Lent approaches and Easter Season is around the corner, I am rededicating myself to joining the Military. I completely full-heartedly believe that it is the correct place for me to be. I'm having to deal with the fact that it's not happening NOW, because of past mistakes and choices that I've made. But I'm handling it, I'm ready for it, I'm excited for it. I feel like Spring Break was a nice break from everything. I got to shoot some guns. I got to hang out with my best friend, who unfortunately/fortunately reads my mind better than I do sometimes. My nephew spent the night at my apartment also. I was nervous about this, it was his idea and he has a past track record of being kind of "choosy" (one of his birthday parties, he rejected almost every present because it wasn't what he thought it should be). But I realized that even though I don't buy them flashy toys or loud games, my nieces and nephews (and my brother) know that I love them, which is really the most important thing. Andrew was happy just to hang out with me- he didn't care what we did. They also know, that they can be whomever they want to be when they're with me and not suffer any judgement for it, or so I like to think. Those qualities are those that I think every person should have at least one person like this in their life. Along with someone who constantly pushes them to be the best. So there you have it, my life as I see it right now. My life as I see it to be and as it was and WILL BE NO MORE!
I had to blog quickly about the book I just read, cause I think it's possible it's having an effect on my current attitude, The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. I haven't seen the movie yet, but the book was....good...interesting...different. I also just saw the movie Remember Me. And Yes, I saw it because Robert Pattinson was in it, but you know what? It was actually a GOOD movie. I would recommend to anyone...including non-twilight fans. :)

The Final Countdown!

Just having a little fun at work!! Isn't it exciting?!?


Vacation Countdown Clock Generator

Two-for-one!

Hello! I have to blog about the newest book, or actually bookS that I've just finished. A friend recommended "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins to me, and since she's a librarian, I figured she should know what she's talking about. AND SHE DID!! It took me a while to get into the first one, but once I did- I could not stop!! I finished the first book on Thursday night at about 2 in the morning cause I COULD NOT STOP READING!! On Saturday, I took Bobby out for his annual birthday meal and movie celebration. We went to Olive Garden for lunch, per his request. Then went and saw Percy Jackson & The Olympians. It was a fun afternoon, we tried to remember all the other movies that we've seen each year, but considering I take him to the movies more than just that one time a year, it wasn't easy. It's weird sometimes sitting in the movie theatre with him. I remember that first year I took him to the movies and he had to sit on the edge of the seat so that it didn't fold up on him. I think he was like 4 that first time. I also took him to the mall that first time and bought him a CD, he picked out New Kids on the Block!! Proof that from an early age, I've had an unfortunate influence on him! HAHAHA!! Anyways, after the movie, I took him to Barnes & Noble so we could get the rest of the books in the Percy Jackson series, along with the second book in the Hunger games series and a few others. I even let him pick something out. So I started reading "Catching Fire," the second book in the series, while waiting for Bobby's basketball game to start that afternoon and I COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN! I ended up finishing it Sunday around Midnight cause I couldn't put it down. If I hadn't gone out with a friend Saturday night, I probably would have finished it sooner. ANYWAYS- IT'S REALLY GOOD! I'm not going to tell you what it's about, because that's one of the reasons I couldn't put it down, cause I was trying to figure out what they were talking about, or what would happen next. But if anyone has read it, and would like to discuss it, or is reading it and would like to discuss it! I would be GLAD TO DISCUSS IT WITH YOU! So now, I'm on to read the second book in Percy Jackson's series. I'll get back to you when I finish that one.
OH AND SOME MORE EXCITING NEWS- WE'RE GOING ON A CRUISE TO ALASKA!!! I'm so stoked!! Mom and dad have been talking about going but I thought they would be going in the middle of the summer, and there's no way I would miss a whole week, or more, of girl scout camp. So when they decided on one that would allow me to miss only two days (including staff party) of camp, well I tried to act like it was a hard decision, but ultimately- it wasn't!! So I made it official!! I decided that this was a once in a lifetime opportunity and had to go for it! So expect a picture blog in August. We're cruising on Holland cruise ships, taking the inside passage, to include Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan and Victoria, B.C., leaving to and from Seattle, Washington. We'll even be on the ship for dad's 60th Birthday!! I'm sure he's not too happy that I just put that, sorry dad, but IT'S EXCITING!! Plus it's just like a week after my 26th birthday!! I'm currently deciding if I want to buy a new digital camera before we go. I have my iPhone, but what happens if I run out of room? So if anyone has any insight on this, or suggestions for an affordable but better-than-decent camera, bring 'em on.
Well, I decided to order an intense workout series. I ordered Power 90, it's by the same guy who did P90X, but this is more of a beginner's version, or just not the expert version... It just came in the mail yesterday so I haven't had a chance to start it yet, but I also am going to take those awful Before and After pictures, not that anyone besides ME will ever see them, I just think it will be cool to see the difference. It's one of those programs that says, if you stick to the program, in 90 days, things will happen. So let's hope so, cause while I've done really good, getting started, I NEED MORE! More motivation, more intensity, just MORE! So I'll keep you updated on that as well! Well, my lunch break is just about over so I better run. Thanks for reading!

Warning! Blog-explosion ahead!

To start off, I should say that right now, I'm not really sure where this blog is heading, but we'll find out when we get there, eh?
Today was a nice little school-vacation day for me, we didn't have MLK day off. It was a semi-productive day; I went to the gym at least! Went saw a movie, HORRIBLE, Dear John, sorry if I led you astray before but really the book was terrible and so was the movie. Anyways, I did some thinking earlier as I drove out to mom and dad's house after work (it wasn't a total vacation) and I'm going to share some of the thoughts, mostly cause these days my thoughts run through my brain as blogs, so it's sometimes the only way to figure stuff out...sorry for the really long run-on sentence...
I started thinking about the things I have to be thankful for, after all Thanksgiving should not be reserved for a month in the fall. Here's a list of some stuff I came up with:

I'm thankful that I have a teaching job, many people who took a risk like me ended up with nothing.

I'm thankful that I found a part-time job so close to my apartment that I was also blessed enough to find.

I'm thankful for my family and friends that I can call, text or drive to see so that I complain or vent or just talk.

I'm thankful that when I have a bad day, the most embarrassing thing that I do is blast Perry Como or Rod Stewart or any MUSIC and drink a diet Dr. pepper to improve my mood.

I'm thankful that I have a mission of being commissioned in the Air Force, even though my life has changed directions quite a few times, I've at least always known which direction I was pointing.

There are more things but I'll move on now. For anyone who has ever worked with me or who knows me, you know that I'm a fan of rules and not a fan of change, and that I'm a people pleaser, also known as an ass-kisser. I like to not only do my job, but do it well. Some may call me a "ladder-climber" I think you may call it, I'm not satisfied doing just enough or only what is asked of me. (and if you didn't know that, you do now and now you'll understand why I'm frustrated and needed to take a brief inventory of my life.) You know that I have a part-time job at a funeral home. It's in walking distance to my apartment, not many late nights and only during the week. When I was hired, my manager told me the wardrobe requirements "closed-toe shoes, skirts or pants would be fine, dark clothing- no bright colors, long sleeves like a cardigan or jacket or something. and I don't care if you wear the same thing every night." So I did that. I had some gray pants and a couple of black cardigans with some dark shirts that I wore every night. Until December, I got a new cardigan. It was a dark purple and I loved it so I switched it around with my black cardigan. Well she pulled me aside and told me that I needed to only wear black and it had to be a jacket. I'm not going to lie, I was frustrated, this was not what she told me, however I had a black jacket I bought a few years ago so I started wearing it with my grey pants EVERY NIGHT. It's all I had. Tonight I wore my new pants, that are really a darker grey, almost had black stripes and my black jacket with a purple tank top. Mind you- that I SIT at a desk and answer the phones and tell people where the restroom is...LITERALLY. Well tonight the FIRST thing she says to me is, we really need to get you a skirt. I probably looked like my head was going to explode and I said 'but you said that pants were fine' she said well honestly I don't remember what she said, there were lots of people and too much to do so she walked away after she said something??! I mean I've been wearing pants for FIVE MONTHS!! I don't wear skirts, I told her that when she hired me that it would be pants!! So once I calm down, I'm going to talk to her about whether or not I should continue working there. One of the reasons I moved home was to be closer to family and friends so that work wouldn't stress me out as much, now it's not even my school that's stressing me out. I had a dream last week that I got fired from there and woke up at 4 in the morning! It's a part time job, if anything I should be having bad dreams about dead people or something, but THAT'S NOT EVEN THE PROBLEM! Did I mention that I'm thankful that I have a blog that I can write and get my thoughts out? Well, the other "problem" that this ordeal has brought up, is that if I were teaching at public school, I wouldn't need to get a second job...BUT I'm hopefully going to the Air Force within the next 2 year period. So do I find another job until then even though I'm emphatically happy at my new school, I could see myself teaching there forever and ever if I weren't going into the Air Force? Or do I get over it and try and hope to find a public school job so that I can enjoy my last two years at home with my friends and family? I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. Well I'm going to do an exercise tape to unwind and the go to bed so that I can get up and go to the gym in the morning.
Oh, one more thing- I have a deadline! The next non-rated (non-pilot) board is this summer, so my application is due by June 11th, which means my tests, both fitness and AFOQT, have to be done before that (April/May) along with all of my recommendations and every thing else. If I get all of that stuff done and I'm selected than I could be leaving for OTS school as Early as September of 2011!! The next board after that is in December, so the earliest class date I would get would be January 2012! So here's hoping that everything keeps coming into play there, I'm considering buying either the Insanity Workout or P90X, both distributed by the same company and many people on the OTS Forum use them. Plus it would help me over come my BIGGEST (and only) obstacle in applying to OTS.
Well, I think I'm done for tonight. I hope you got something out of that blog, or at least didn't lose anything, hahaha
HAPPY PRESIDENT'S DAY! Don't Forget- Mardi Gras, aka FAT TUESDAY is tomorrow and Ash Wednesday marking the start of lent the day after that- and no, I have no idea what I'm doing for lent yet...

Blog-Podge

So I realized that today's date 2-5-10..is MATHEMATICAL!! Okay I'll try not to be a nerd...at least for a few more minutes....
So I forgot to blog last week. Last week was...interesting!! It started out somewhat normal until Tuesday evening. I took off work to go to a Rosary with my mom and dad for someone I hadn't really seen for like 13 years. So at the time I didn't think much about it. Until I got there...and saw all of her family, most of whom for the first 12 years of my life were part of my family! The Gabel's and the Lange's were like cousins to my sister and me. The Gabel's only lived 3 or 4 blocks away so were often at each other's houses, trying to spend the night. I even experienced my first tornado scare in the middle of the night at the Gabel's house. Leon Lange was(and is) dad's best friend so we were always hanging out together too. We all went on camping trips together, sat together at church- at least Cassi and I would sneak over there and sit with them. One thing I remembered last week is that when extended family came to town we were always invited to Grandma Olga's house on Sundays. Well, all of these memories came flooding back as I sat and listened to their stories. I was sad at the memories we didn't get to make after we made the move across town. You know, I can't really find the words still to describe the emotional overload that happened that night. The next day after the funeral we were invited to a dinner that the family hosted in the Knights of Columbus Hall behind St. Laurence-right off the Railroad tracks. It was good and weird- I don't think I've been in that hall since I was probably 11 or 12, and being back there with those same great people- I almost felt like I was 11 or 12 again! I have to thank Olga Lange for all the wonderful memories I was allowed to have because of her AMAZING family!
And then came THURSDAY! and with Thursday came SNOW!! LOTS AND LOTS OF SNOW!! Enough for schools to cancel two days in a row! So with talks of Power outages around town and friends bragging about their family time, my dad came and picked me up Thursday afternoon and I spent the weekend with the family! Watching movies, playing scrabble and Monopoly (we stick with the oldies) and most of all- EATING MOM AND DAD'S COOKING!! Needless to say, I really felt like a kid again after all of last week's events...
This week was my first experience with Catholic Schools Week! Well, most of it at least, I woke up sick on Tuesday, but I'm almost 100% again. It was fun-Catholic Schools Week not me being sick...
Today I'm really excited for several reasons! FIRST OF ALL, SINCE STARTING MY FITNESS QUEST AS OF TODAY- I'VE LOST 20 POUNDS!! I'm super psyched! I know I still have a ways to go, but I'm getting there- I'M GETTING THERE!!
Second of all, tomorrow night is the Catholic Student Center Auction and Dance!! I LOVE GOING to hang out with my Catholic Friends, both new and old! It's my guaranteed once a year time to dance too!!
Well, I've read another book too- Percy Jackson & the Olympians: the Lightning Thief. It's the first book in a 4 book series! It's REALLY GOOD!! I'm sure you've seen the previews for the movie that's coming out. Just in case, if you have ever been interested in Greek Mythology- you should READ this book! It's also really good for teenagers or kids with ADHD or dyslexia!
"But don't take my word for it!"

Keep going and...

Alright. Hello there. The year is officially up and running. I have just finished book #2 of the year. I've changed it a little, my resolution that is, so that I will read at least 25 books this year....that's approximately 2 a month, and I'm off to a good start on that. Anyway to get to the book first. Book #2 is also a movie-based decision. As some of you may know a few years back when they really started turning books into movies, cause lets face it- Hollywood couldn't do much better, I made the decision that if a movie came out that was based on a book, I would read it first. Some of those being Eragon and The Wedding Date. I've been almost sticking with this theme in my choices so far, with Dear John and now- My sister's keeper. I want to start out my saying I hadn't really wanted to read this book. I saw the previews for the movie and just thought- no, not for me. Now, I'm very glad I did. Unfortunately, after discussing it briefly with someone who watched the movie but not the book, I'm not certain if I want to really watch the movie....for reasons that I will not discuss here. Let's just say, I'm tired of being disappointed in "Hollywood." Now, unfortunately, curiosity may still inspire me to watch the movie, but nonetheless...
I enjoyed the book for several reasons. I love reading stories that are not necessarily told from an "omniscient" point of view, like a narrator-type of story. (just for the record I just spent 5 minutes trying to figure out the word "omniscient") I love it when we hear stories from the character's view point, and this book tells different parts of the stories from different character's perspectives, ie., one chapter from Anna, one from her mom, one from her dad and so on. I also really like it when stories you think are completely unrelated end up coming together and it turns out they are actually the same story all along! I won't say anything else about the book, but if you have read and would like to discuss- I'm game, just don't want to give anything away to those that haven't. If you would like to read along with me, my next book I have chosen from our school library and it is Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver, author of Poisonwood Bible.
As for other things, I've been pretty good about going to the gym. It gets harder towards the end of the week, but even if I have to take gym clothes to work and go late at night as opposed to early in the morning- that's what I do, as I will have to do tonight cause I stayed up late trying to finish that silly book! I also joined the "Fittest Member" contest at the YMCA. It's a six week competition, and we'll just have to see how I do. Oh, and in case you haven't heard already about my other new current obsession- if you have an iPhone or an iTouch then you should get "Words with friends" It's basically scrabble, but you can play other people on other phones or you can play on one device with people sitting around you. I currently have about 12 games going and I think I'm ahead in about 9 or 10 of them. One game I have is against my dad, whom as most of you relatives know, is a scrabble maniac! He's currently beating me, but not by much- unfortunately the last six letters I was stuck with were consonants, so he's probably going to win THIS game! But there will be more....so if you have it, create a game with "Teddyzzil" if you don't have, WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU? If you can't have it, well, I'm sorry...how sad. Have a great weekend coming up, most of you probably have a 3 day weekend- I however will have a 3 day weekend in February for President's day instead- which I'm very excited about!
Until next time,
THANKS FOR READING!